The provided contact point serves as a direct line to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This telephone resource is used primarily by authorized entities, such as licensed firearms dealers (FFLs), to initiate mandatory background checks on individuals seeking to purchase firearms. An FFL would use this communication channel to submit necessary identifying information about the prospective buyer, enabling the NICS to determine eligibility for firearm ownership under federal law.
Access to this communication channel is essential for compliance with the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993, which mandates these background checks to prevent firearms from falling into the hands of individuals legally prohibited from owning them, such as convicted felons, those with specific domestic violence restraining orders, or individuals adjudicated as mentally defective. The existence of this system contributes to public safety by providing a mechanism for identifying and preventing prohibited individuals from acquiring firearms, thus potentially reducing gun violence. The system’s historical context lies in the legislative effort to create a standardized and efficient nationwide background check system.
